Start the tour with exciting visits to the famous sights in Ho Chi Minh City and Cu Chi Tunnels. Explore life on the rivers of Mekong Delta. Spend time relaxing in Dalat – Vietnam’s City of eternal spring. Head to Nha Trang for the spectacular sandy beaches and an awesome snorkeling/diving location – Mun island. Walk up the famous Marble Mountain in Danang and navigate Hoi An’s enchanting streets and local villages. Contemplate the wonderful landscape of Northern Vietnam when visiting Mai Chau and learn about life in the mountainous villages. Experience the history and culture of Hanoi and also its delectable food. End the trip with an incredible day on the cruise in Halong Bay, renowned for the spectacular sight of hundreds of limestone mountains!

Full Itinerary

- This itinerary is designed for your kind reference, and it can totally be personalized to match your time, budget and interests. Feel free to let us know your expectations for the trip and we take care of them for you.

- Trips are personally tailor-made, with basic standards of daily JOIN-GROUP TOURS where-ever possible, while accommodations and your time of leisure are at your own choice. If your budget allows, we recommend you upgrade to PRIVATE TOURS, when you are personally taken care of and be able to enjoy more private time on your own. Certainly, your trip can be a good mix of PRIVATE DAY TOURS and JOIN-GROUP DAY TOURS as you wish, just simply let us know!

Day 1: Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) Arrival

You will be welcomed at the airport then taken directly to your hotel in downtown, in a private vehicle. Check in hotel (check-in time is from 14.00).
You can then choose to relax at your Hotel or energy permitting, stretch your legs by taking a walk-through busy Streets of HCMC, a perfect way to explore the daily life. Dinner will be on your own tonight (with the recommendation from your Travel Specialists if you wish).

Meals included: No

Overnight in HCMC

Day 2: HCMC – Cu Chi Tunnels – HCMC City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, at around 8.30am, we’ll depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Cu Chi Tunnels, that’s about 80km from Ho Chi Minh city. The tunnel system was built by the Viet Cong in the war battles in the South of Vietnam. The tunnels are a sobering insight into the dedication of the Viet Cong who lived almost entirely underground in the narrow and claustrophobic tunnels, for up to 10 years! Upon arrival, you will have a chance to watch a brief video that will introduce you to the Cu Chi tunnels, followed by a walk through the reserve. In this walk, you can see the Secret Entrance to the tunnels, workshops for the handmade weapons, the clinic bunker, the commander bunker, the meeting bunker and the kitchen bunkers, which are all open and above ground. Nearby is a chilling exhibition of the traps and weapons used against the American GIs. If you are brave, you can experience the Cu Chi tunnels by crawling inside to see how difficult life must have been, and discover the 3 levels underground.
For those who do not like the claustrophobic atmosphere, you do not have to crawl into these tunnels! The small replica displayed outside will give you a perfect example of what the interior looked like.

We will return to HCMC around noon for Lunch at a local restaurant (at your own expense).
In the afternoon, our guide will show you the most interesting sights that Ho Chi Minh City has to offer. Depart from your hotel to the Reunification Palace; this beautifully preserved palace was the residence of the President of the Republic of Vietnam. On April 30th, 1975 the American War officially came to an end here. Enjoy a visiting the War Remnants Museum where you can see countless artifacts, photographs, and pictures documenting the second Indochina war.
After this, we’ll visit The Notre Dame Cathedral, which was built in 1880, and the Old Post Office, which was built sometime between 1886 and 1891. It is one of the best examples of classical French colonial architecture. Next will be Jade Emperor Pagoda. This is an ancient temple, as the Chinese temple style with bright decorative motifs.
Our last stop will be at a local Market where you can practice your bargaining skills while shopping for souvenirs. Discover local life and culture. You’ll find some of the friendliest, liveliest, most convivial people in the city in here. Return to your hotel around 18:00. The evening and dinner will be on your own.

Meals included: BreakfastOvernight in HCMC

Day 3: HCMC – Mekong Delta (Ben Tre) – HCMC

After breakfast, your tour guide and driver will drive you through the lush farming land to Ben Tre town, the heart of the Mekong Delta, popularly known as the “rice bowl” of Vietnam. This town is famous for its vast rice fields, numerous waterways, and beautiful landscapes. Upon arrival you will embark on a motorized boat trip around the scenic Ben Tre River, viewing various local industries along the way. During the boat ride, you will stop to visit the small local factories where bricks and sleeping mats are made. Take a leisurely walk along the village lanes visiting the local homes to try dry fruits, taste honey tea while enjoying a local Tai Tu music show. Continue your morning tour by visiting a coconut mill workshop where the local delicacy of coconut candy is produced and a range of coconut husk and fiber products are skillfully handcrafted. You’ll next take a small sampan through palm-fringed back canals, gliding peacefully along the hidden waterways surrounded by an immense variety of tropical plants. The quiet, rural setting is a welcome and restorative retreat to the frenetic buzz of HCMC which seems far, far away. Have some fun by sitting in the back a Motor Cart (Xe Lôi) passing rice, vegetable and orchard farms while meeting with the local people. Stop at a local restaurant by the riverside for Lunch. Here you will sample some of the most delightful cuisines of the Mekong region. After lunch, you will return to the docks where the vehicle waits for your drive back HCMC.

The rest of the day you will be on your own. You can visit the night market to discover authentic local cuisine. Or simply enjoy a cocktail on the rooftop bar of the historic Rex Hotel.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch Overnight in HCMC

Here are some optional tours/activities in HCMC that you may be interested in, to heighten your experience in Vietnam.

Optional Tour: Explore “HCMC after Dark” on Vespa scooters where you are the passenger! (Group tour)

This HCMC night tour is part night excursion, part street food adventure. Experience HCMC nightlife the way locals do, all from the back of a vintage Vespa scooter.

To start off this HCMC night tour, enjoy drinks at our Vespa-themed café, Café Zoom, to watch “as the world goes by” (as said in the Lonely Planet guidebook). Throughout the night, try a variety of food and drinks at 2 local restaurants and samplings of HCMC’s best authentic local food. Zoom past the famous must-see sights of Ho Chi Minh City while in the bustling traffic. We’ll also go to a Vietnamese-style coffee shop with special live music, and then wrap up the evening at an exciting music bar where the new generation of Vietnamese unwind and flaunt their unique styles.

Guests ride pillion behind our drivers to enjoy and experience the Vietnamese nightlife with friends. This tour includes free-flowing drinks and all you can eat, so come with an appetite!

Price: Upon Request

Inclusion: Vespas, drivers, English speaking tour guide, dinners (2 stops), local music venues and café (3 stops), one drink provided at each stop

Day 4: HCMC – Flight to Dalat

After breakfast, you will on your own until check out time. You will be picked up & transferred to HCMC airport for a noon flight to Dalat.
Dalat is known as the City of a thousand pine trees or City of eternal spring. Dalat is an ideal destination where you can see many beautiful landscapes such as Tuyen Lam Lake, Valley of Love, Natural Datanla waterfalls… Arrive in Dalat, you will be picked up and driven to your hotel in Dalat city. You’ll be on your own this evening.

Optional tour: Day train to Trai MatThis morning, you can wake up a bit later, after breakfast, you will be transferred to Dalat railway station to take the local train to Trai Mat. This slow daytime train will take you 7km through the rural local villages of the highland area outside of Dalat city, with terraces and market garden areas, where all available space is planted with fruit, vegetables, herbs or flowers. You will have about 1.5hrs in Trai Mat, hang around and visit Linh Phuoc Pagoda till take the train back to Dalat city.

Day 6: Dalat – Nha Trang

The morning will be your free time till check out hotel and transfer from DaLat to Nha Trang for 140km in 4-5 hours. Hotel check-in upon arrival. You will be on your own the rest of the day.

Meals included: BreakfastOvernight at hotel in Nha Trang

Day 7: Nha Trang Boat Trip Tour

08.30am – 08.50am guide and driver will pick you up from hotel to Cau Da port for a day boat trip
Mun Island is the best island for diving/snorkeling where you can see lots of lives colorful corals and fish. You will also be able to see caves in which the sea swallows make their nest.
Then time to relax, swim, or do water sports and the other activities on Mot Island, Tranh Beach Island or on a small island calling “Mini beach”. Enjoy lunch on the island. On the way back, you will visit a fishing village before going to the shore. Transfer back to your hotel in Nha Trang

Meals included: Breakfast, LunchOvernight at hotel in Nha Trang

Day 8: Nha Trang – Flight to Danang – Transfer to Hoi An – Hoi An City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transferred to the airport for morning flight to Danang. Arriving at Danang airport, you will meet a tour guide with the car, and driven to Hoi An, about 30km from Danang. En-route you will stop to visit the Cham Museum and Marble Mountain. The Marble Mountains are a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble in Da Nang. It’s also a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels, and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Reaching the summit, you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views.

You’ll continue on to the nearby town of Hoi An. From the 16th to the 18th century, Hoi An was a thriving international commercial port. Today it is a quaint riverside town popular with tourists for its eclectic architecture, and tailor shops who will make an outfit in 24 hours for you!

You will arrive in Hoi An early afternoon, after check-in at the hotel, we take a walking tour through the winding narrow streets of the Ancient Quarter, visits Chua Ong Pagoda, The Assembly Hall, The 200-year-old Tam Ky house and the Japanese Covered Bridge. You will also attend a traditional music show and explore the Lantern making factories, a traditional hand-made product of Hoi An.
Dinner will be on your own tonight.

Meals included: BreakfastOvernight in Hoi An

Day 9: Hoi An – Free Day

A charming town, Hoi An is perfect for you to spend a day wandering around, exploring things by yourself. You can have clothes tailor-made and completed within 24hrs at reasonable prices, or have a relaxing bike ride through beautiful local villages, or relax on the Cua Dai beach or An Bang beach. You can also join one of the optional tours below (additional charge)

Day 10: Hoi An – Danang – Flight to Hanoi

You will have time for yourself till transfer to train station to take the flight to Hanoi.
You will be picked up at Hanoi airport and transferred to hotel for check-in. The rest of time will be on your own.

Meals included: BreakfastOvernight in Hanoi

Day 11: Hanoi – Mai Chau

Arrive in Hanoi in the early morning, you will be picked up and transfer to a 3* hotel for refreshing and Breakfast.

At around 08.00am, join the journey to Mai Chau, along the way, you will have a chance to contemplate the beauty of northwest mountains that terraced fields are sparkling in sunlight or dim in thick fog. Have a short break in 30 minutes then continue the trip to Mai Chau valley.12.00: Arrive Mai Chau, have traditional lunch in the local village (vegetarian available).14.00 – 16.00: Ride a bicycle with our guide, see farmers working in fields, locals weaving scarves and visit surrounding peaceful villages.16:30 – 18:00: Free time for walking, shopping, etc.18.00: Enjoy the outdoor BBQ party and watch the Thai’s traditional dance and drink the traditional wine “Ruou can”.
Overnight at the communal stilt house or Valley View Bungalow

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerOvernight in Mai Chau

Day 12: Mai Chau – Hanoi

Get up early to enjoy a view and have breakfast.8.00: We visit Na Meo and Na Mo villages, typical traditional Vietnamese village, to learn about their culture and custom.12.00: Come back mountain village to have lunch and check out.13.00 – 15.00: Free time for shopping and relaxing.15.00 – 15.30: Get on the car, return to Hanoi.18.30 – 19.00: Arrive in Hanoi Old Quarter. Drop you off at your hotel.
You’ll be on your own in the evening

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerOvernight in Hanoi

Day 13: Hanoi City Tour

After breakfast at the hotel, dive into the sights sounds and aromas of Hanoi. Start with Ho Chi Minh Complex including his Mausoleum (Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is closed all afternoon, every Monday & Friday, and from late September until December), the Presidential Palace, the historic Stilt house, and the One Pillar Pagoda.

Continuing on our journey through Hanoi, we’ll drive to Tran Quoc Pagoda (which means “Stabilizing the Nation”), the oldest pagoda constructed in the sixth century in the Westlake and also a famous attraction for pilgrims.
From there we’ll head to the Temple of Literature. Originally built in honor of Confucius by Emperor Ly Thanh Tong in 1070, a university was added to the grounds six years later. The university provided education to the royal family and children of the aristocracy or “mandarins”.

Around 12.30: you will have lunch at a restaurant. Afterward, you’ll visit Hoan Kiem Lake, the heart and soul of Hanoi. We’ll then take a short drive to visit the Museum of Ethnology, a museum of the 54 officially recognized Ethnic Groups in Vietnam (Ethnology Museum is closed every Monday). Afterward, take a cycle rickshaw ride through the Old Quarter then enjoy a Water Puppet show, a uniquely northern Vietnamese art form depicting scenes from rural life and episodes of national history.

From 17.30 – 18.00, return to your hotel, the rest of the day will be free.

Meals included: Breakfast, LunchOvernight in Hanoi

Optional: Hanoi Street food tour (private tour)

We’ll start our walking tour of Hanoi’s largest covered market, Dong Xuan. Along the perimeter of the market, dozens of street hawkers sell a staggering variety of products, from live seafood to exotic fruits and spices. Your expert English-speaking local guide will give you an insight into the intricacies and traditions of Vietnamese food culture including details on ingredients and the history of popular northern dishes.

Walking through the maze of bustling streets that make up Hanoi’s Old Quarter, we’ll tempt our taste buds with the famed Hanoi dish Banh Cuon at a local eatery. Watch in awe as the skilled chefs demonstrate for you how this tasty dish is put together. Continuing into the atmospheric heart of the Old Quarter, we wander past street stalls and quiet residential lanes where you can observe local life that has changed little since Hanoi was founded over 1000 years ago.

Our next stop will be a food stall for you to try our Bread, a little food stall with a few typical tiny Vietnamese chairs on the sidewalk where we enjoy the delicious fresh baguettes while observing the neighborhood.

Next one will be another famous dish – Bun Cha. Bun Cha consists of vermicelli, herbs and grilled pork. At this secretly hidden café, we will watch a demonstration and then try some egg coffee, a scrumptious local delicacy.

Continue to other food stalls near Hoan Kiem lake where we can try some dishes such as Che “Vietnamese style pudding” and Nom “papaya salad with beef”.

It’s then time for dessert as we’ll venture down a small alley and try the local tradition of fresh fruit served in a cup and smothered with crushed iced – this specialty is one not to be missed!

Price: Upon request

Inclusions: English speaking guide, food.

Day 14: Hanoi – Halong – Overnight on Boat

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll leave Hanoi for Halong Bay. The journey is through the rich farmlands where you can observe the daily life of Vietnamese villagers. Arriving in Halong Bay in the late morning and you will board a traditional “junk” boat. You will begin a relaxing and unforgettable cruise around the breathtaking and unique limestone karsts and islets. A delicious fresh seafood lunch will be served as you cruise this spectacular bay, a UNESCO listed site.

Notes: The program may differ slightly based on the junk cruise’s itinerary.

Towards the end of the day, the boat will set anchor for the night. As the sun sets over the bay, dinner will be served with fresh seafood, salad, and fruit. You will spend the night in your private cabin aboard the Junk in Halong Bay.

Day 15: Halong Bay – Hanoi – Departure

Early risers can enjoy an unforgettable sunrise over the bay. On a clear day, you will have the chance to see the sunrise over the spectacular horizon, reflecting in the pristine waters of the bay

Enjoy breakfast while the vessels slowly gets back the jetty. Disembark at around noontime and you will be transferred back to Hanoi then to Hanoi airport flight Departure.

*** Note: In case your flight departure is in the afternoon time, one more night in Hanoi should be added.

Meals included: Brunch on Cruise

Pricing

The price of this trip varies according to selected airlines, the number of people in your party, dates of departure, hotel standard, and availability of ground services. If you wish to travel with your family, friends or on your own we would be more than happy to assist you with your arrangements.

Maui Traveler

I wanted to show a friend the wonderful sites of Vietnam and chose this company. From start to finish the booking process was painless! I explained what we wanted and they designed a tour specifically to meet our desires, I cannot recommend them enough, for a) Listening to what we wanted. b) Excellent pricing. c) Very acceptable accommodation. d) The BEST tour guides and drivers.

Do not hesitate to contact this wonderful company, you will be under no obligation until you are ready to book.

Wow!…. I was in Thailand for 2 weeks. The hotels were beautiful. The food was great (especially the street food ) (just a little note: bring toilet paper with you- you can buy travel size in Wall greens or Rite Aid – 1 roll lasted me the 2 weeks.. but bring 2 just in case. Some of the local places do not have toilet paper.) I couldn’t take enough pictures.. it is a dream place for a photographer… (I am not a professional photographer) I really want to go back again … I would re-visit the places I went and hope to stay longer and see more do more. I could go back over and over again.
My Agent Helen was amazing in helping me curate the perfect trip for me. She was patient with all my edits and requests and worked with me with such polite professionalism. I was amazed at the level of customer service from beginning to end. My guides and drivers were wonderful. I didn’t have a worry in the world in their hands. You could see the complete communication to each person through the group that serviced along the way. Something I mentioned in passing, was brought to the attention of my next guide without skipping a beat. I am so blown away… I am excited to recommend Helen and I would believe from my experience; Asia Trip Deals only hires the best…
I thought I was planning a trip alone….. and instead, I found myself traveling with friends….. wonderful, wonderful experience……

Review Date:July 28, 2019

Review from:
Trip Advisor

Rating:

Celia Guido

I absolutely loved the tour that Helen crafted for me! She paid attention to what I wanted and the type of places and activities I enjoy, and she came up with the perfectly balanced itinerary, with time on my own, individualised tours with a guide and group activities also. It was just perfect!